Collapsible container

Abstract

A collapsible container has a substantially rectangular base and four substantially trapezoidal walls. The short parallel sides of the trapezoidal walls are foldably joined to a perimeter of the base and the non-parallel sides are foldably joined end-to-end. The lengthwise walls are foldably divided into three segments along lines extending from approximately a corner of the base at approximately a 45 degree angle toward approximately a center of their long parallel sides. The long parallel sides of the walls form an open mouth of the container larger than the base when the container is in an expanded condition. The base, the widthwise walls and the segments of the lengthwise walls are substantially parallel when the container is in a collapsed condition. Preferably, the container walls have a height greater than 1/2the width of the base to as much as slightly more than an arm of a right isosceles triangle having a triangle base substantially equal to the width of the container base and the container base has a length approximately 1.5 times its width. The container is expandable and collapsible in response to rotational force applied to the widthwise walls. Preferably, the walls have sufficient weight to overcome forces inherent in the foldable junctions to maintain container in the expanded or collapsed condition. Also preferably, the base and the walls are of unitary construction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.